We’ve seen changes to the grant writing world in the United States in 2025. 

Are there still federal grants in 2025?

Firstly, Grant Writing is Not Dead. 

The thought of grant writing dying isn’t new. In the first chapter of my book, The Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing I actually write that exactly for when it was first published in 2017.

Sure, in the United States, we haven’t been like what’s happening in 2025 to federal grants and federal administrations before, but grants are not dead.

We’ve seen a rise of foundation come together with Meet the Moment, federal grants (in July 2025) are now coming back out, and grant funding is still being awarded.

As an example, students inside my programs the Freelance Grant Writer Academy and the Grant Professional Mentorship have collectively secured $33,020,758 in grants in the first six months of 2025. 

Nonprofit clients are also still hiring them to write grants with the students collectively receiving $2,533,267 in grant writing clients sales in the first six months of 2025.

Organizations need grant writers now more than ever because of all the uncertainty in the United States federal grant funding. 

Why? 

Because organizations who may have seen federal grants paused or reduced are now needing agile grant writers to transition into foundation grants, state grants, or other types of funding streams.

They also don’t have time to stay on top of the changes in the federal grants coming out so need grant writers to attend the webinars, pay attention to short deadlines, and more. 

For those nonprofits or organizations who never dove into federal grants, they still need you as priority areas of certain foundations may be shifting. 

Some grant professionals have shut down their agencies or businesses in 2025, but I’ve actually relaunched my Grant Writing Agency in 2025 because nonprofits were coming to me and needing support now more than ever. 

And in one week I was able to make $37,500 to support them. We’ve been able to do grant research for new prospects and also incorporate corporate sponsorship campaigns, and more. In this way they are adding streams of funding to their portfolio.

How Many Federal Grants and Spending in 2025?

According to USASpending.gov the overall amount of funds obligated for grants in 2025 is on a downward trend. But if we analyze pre-Covid times, we will see that obligations are still up over all.

For example, in the first 3 quarters of 2018 and 2019 the highest obligated quarter of federal grants was not more than $177 billion. Quarter Four for both years had a bit of a spike to about $223 Billion.

Then the Covid-19 pandemic hit and we saw grant giving start to soar. With obligated federal grant funding at the highest in Quarter Three of 2021 at more than $483 Billion.

Comparatively, in 2025 the lowest quarter of obligated grant funds is $217 Billion. 

Now, I am not going to Pollyanna this as we have seen very established departments get defunded in 2025. 

What does this mean?

For many programs that have relied on federal funding,they will need to look at a shift in funding, advocacy in getting discretionary funding at their state and federal areas, creating avenues for public-private partnerships, donors, or products and services. 

We know that the work that organizations carry out is very important, so having consultants to help find ways of capturing funds and getting streams of funding is very important right now.

What are freelance grant writers seeing that helps organizations in 2025?

Grant writers in the Academy and Mentorship, who are helping their clients be successful securing grants and funding at this time are doing a few things.

1. Leaning into their mission and vision now more than ever.
2. Leaning into existing relationships and partners and asking for general operating monies or additional money.
3. Advocate to their state or city for funding through city halls, legislature hearings, and talks.
4. Applying for new grants.
5. Be in the media for their causes through press releases, news, and more – and start or promote their individual donor campaigns
6. Keep asking for money
7. Keep applying for renewal grants
8. Find new grant prospects and investigate more assertively
9. Relationship-building with funders, local politicians, business, and more
10.  Corporate Sponsorship
11.  Online Giving Campaigns

As grant writers and organizations navigate change in 2025, what doesn’t work is pulling back from all grant prospects. 

What freelance grant writers are doing differently in 2025 to keep building businesses and get grants awarded:

• Leaning into consultancy more than ever and adding it to their scope of work
• Keeping on top of trends in their cause area and writing more articles, social, etc. to be thought leaders in the space and a resource
• Adding new services in their retainers (such as strategic planning, board training, foundation grant writing, corporate sponsorships, etc.)
• Double-down on grant prospecting
• Adding in Online Grant Training (or other types of training) for a fee
• Starting e-newsletters to grow their lists and reach
• Opening up their niche areas
• Using language that is federal-grant specific
• Getting better systems in place
• Hiring help so they can focus on new areas in their business

Altogether, grant writing is not dead in 2025 no matter what the climate might feel like. It might feel scary, and there may be areas that are sad to see funding not be appropriated to.

But grant funding is still a major part of our economy, and organizations are still securing grant funding out there. 

If you are interested in learning more, be sure to subscribe to our Write Grants, Get Paid Newsletter, so you keep up with the latest happenings in 2025 and in the Trump 2.0 Administration. 

https://youtu.be/z5QPRzS0CaI

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